The U.S. should upgrade the A-10... with stealth and avionics.. and maybe VTOL versions..

They did that. It is called the F-35.

Far more capable, and more importantly, far more survivable than any A-10. A-10s are great, particular in anti-tank, but against a modern adversary (that doesn't consider camels a major mode of transportation and RPGs an accessory) they are simply not survivable. A cold war FReeper stated some time back that in the Fulda Gap they were not expected to survive (and some story about who was expected to last longer between A-10 and AH-64 Apache pilots).

If one 'upgrades' the A-10 with stealth and avionics, you end up with the F-35A and C. You add STOVL you get the B version. The F-35 still needs some good amount of work, but the A-10 couldn't be used against any country with a real ability to defend itself.

[ A-10 couldn't be used against any country with a real ability to defend itself. ]

The A-10 is a flying tank.. are tanks still useful?.. Are armys still viable?.. Where ever you have foot soldiers A-10's are meaningful.. An A-10 is a flying marksman.. A UAV version might be useful.. a variation of a "Predator".. F-35's are too fast without the gatling gun..

21 posted on 01/25/2011 5:33:56 AM PST by hosepipe
(This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole....)